[crazy_diamond]

Seeing Riker and Troi was lovely

For me, seeing TNG Picard and from this show is completely 2 different characters, I get that he got older and slightly changed, but they changed him way too much for me..

Hate what they have done to a character I loved tbh..

[Chris]

I agree with Tracey. While I understand that people change over time, I didn't feel we had enough explanation for the changes in Picard. The Picard in TNG would never have put up with Raffi calling him JL. Maybe it's because I'm particular about my own name.

[sum1]

Picard in the show is still Picard to me. I just don't see the problem. And I'm not bothered at all by the JL thing.

I started the second season of Picard. I'm liking all the main characters at present. I saw the fascist future episode, which I suspect was inspired by the rise of fascism and the far right around the world, particularly in America. The season is good so far. Even if that episode was a bit hard going.

I sampled a bit of Star Trek's two new animated shows, Lower Decks and Prodigy. Lower Decks is good, but it has problems. Basically a lot of the humour revolves around one of the two lead characters being constantly pathetic and repeatedly humiliated, while the other main character is shown to be effortlessly cool in every way. It leaves a bad taste in the mouth. Prodigy is aimed at kids and teens, but it has some value. Its main issue is it's a bit too much Star Wars.

I'm still pissed off at the way the SNW season finale was dedicated to showing that Pike was not good enough for the job. While I enjoy seeing Kirk being shown as superior, the Star Trek captains (with the exception of Lorca, who was a villain) have always been exceptional characters we're supposed to look up to, even when they're flawed like Kirk. But here we're basically shown Pike as the eejit who'd start a war with the Romulans if given a chance, and out of sheer wimpiness at that.

My favorite character on SNW is presently Chapel. Jess Bush just does an excellent job with her. I guess I'm a Spock/Chapel shipper for SNW. Pity they don't have much chance.

I was thrilled to see Lower Decks portrays the Klingons the old way, not the Discovery way. Add that to images of an old Worf in the Picard season 3 trailer, still looking like himself, and I guess we can say the awful Discovery take on Klingons is restricted to that show and probably ones connected to it, like SNW. Some day, they may have to admit SNW and Discovery are in a different timeline, which is what they seem to be.

[crazy_diamond]

I don't know why Discovery went with that Klingon look, strange..

Do like the character of Chapel in SNW, my fave is Ortegas

[sum1]

It was more than just the look, they were also portrayed as much less relatable. They had them eating human flesh.

Ortegas is good, but to me Chapel is the most heartfelt character on the show.

[crazy_diamond]

I forgot about that..

[Chris]

Chapel is a terrific character. Like Ortegas, she's never afraid to speak her mind. I'd really like to see more of their friendship next season.

[crazy_diamond]

I hope we see more

[Chris]

Me too. I thought SNW did a good job giving us a mix of younger versions of established characters, and new characters.

[sum1]

That's true. I wish they had a better Kirk, though. Anaemic acting from Paul Wesley. I don't buy Ethan Peck's Spock as the real Spock, but at least it's a good performance. Funny, back in early Vampire Diaries a decade ago I felt Paul Wesley had some talent, but I'm just not seeing it here. I guess some actors are better when they're younger.

I've gotten through the 3rd episode of Picard season 2 and I'm not thrilled with the prospect of the characters spending the rest of the season in 2024. I come to Star Trek to see the far future, not the modern era. A brief visit to the present is one thing, but most of a season spent in (roughly) the present is unwelcome.

Watched some more of Lower Decks. Certainly Mariner is a great character, but I wish they'd give Boimler a break. Humour based on a main character's misfortune is not my idea of funny.

[Chris]

Agree about not being impressed with this version of Kirk. To be fair, Paul Wesley has said in interviews that he'll get to do more with the role next season.

I think that Ethan Peck does a good job in his portrayal of Spock. Not quite Nimoy's version, but not too far off,

Season two of Picard didn't do much for me. Took me ages to watch all the episodes I did like Raffi better this season.

[crazy_diamond]

Yeah I'm not really going to judge Paul until we see more of Kirk in S2..

I've grown to like Ethan's portrayal of Spock the more the season has gone on..

[Chris]

it was hard to get much of an impression of Paul's version of Kirk with his brief screen time.

[crazy_diamond]

agreed

[Chris]

We should get a better idea of his portrayal of the character next season.